After over three decades of undisputed power in West Bengal and a stint at the Centre in the coalition, the party today faces severe crisis within its ranks as well as in the new-age image that it is trying to portray to the world at large.

The most striking example of the shift in policy — that has been Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's USP — is that from peasant-friendly politics the party has now switched over to wooing capital. In fact, barely two months ago, the CPM inducted Industry minister Nirupam Sen into its politburo —the party's highest policy-making body. After the Left Front came to power in 1977, the norm was to induct the state Land and Revenue minister and the Chief Minister into the 15-member body.

Also, for the first two decades after assuming power, the Left Front Government focussed on taking land from the big "rayats" and distributing it among landless farmers. Now, in its efforts to project a pro-industry face, it is bending over backwards to acquire peasant land for mega industrial projects. And herein lies the crisis, the effect of which was mirrored in the debacle that the party suffered in the panchayat elections — a total rout in two districts and severe setbacks in four others.

Standing alone amid the allegations of showing apathy to peasants is Buddha, steadfast in his pro-industry agenda. However, even the CM had to make concessions after the panchayat setback that was seen in the slowdown of projects by Indonesia-based Salim Group, and DLF's Rs 30,000 crore mega township project.

"The setback in the rural polls was not entirely due to land issues. Look at Siliguri, Malda, Purulia. Large tracts of land have been acquired for industry without a murmur, and we have won convincingly in these areas," Buddha had said recently.

The CPM is also at loggerheads with its partners over land acquisition and industrialisation.